When the Minnesota Twins dropped their first two games after the All-Star break, the buzzards were circling, and players like Jhoan Duran, Willi Castro, and Harrison Bader had their bags half packed for their expected trips to pennant-contending teams. However, it’s not just that the Twins lit up the Rockies 7-1 to earn a much-needed win on Sunday in the series finale. It’s not only the way they won but specifically, who led the way to victory.

Royce Lewis, who was in the power doldrums, cranked two home runs and knocked in two runs. Matt Wallner, who has shown some power this season but average-wise is Mendoza-line friendly, hit a two-run homer in the third inning to stretch Minnesota’s lead to 3-0. And Mr. Bader. He hit a solo shot in the sixth inning, thank you very much.

Royce Lewis and the Twins’ Hitting Malaise

Much has already been written about the Twins’ hitting woes this year. With the team ranked 20th in Major League Baseball (MLB) stats in runs scored (419) and RBI (403), with an unimpressive slash line of .242/.311/.403, it is obvious that they are challenged in getting people on base and driving them in. Byron Buxton is the gold standard for the Twins this season, and sometimes it feels like he is a one-man hitting show.

And Lewis? He sat out Saturday’s game to try to reframe his psyche. Talking about his struggles with his swing, he said

“It doesn’t look the same as a year ago, two years ago. My body is compensating for something. … I didn’t realize how much injuries have taken a toll on my body. This is the first year it’s really affected me. I don’t know if it’s because I’m starting to get older. When you’re 20 and get hurt, you’re fine. You come back and have all this energy, and your body reacts differently. I don’t know what it is about it, but it has definitely taken a little bit longer this time to start feeling healthier.”

So, he met with Twins’ manager Rocco Baldelli before Sunday’s game, and Minnesota’s skipper repeated some refrains that he has been preaching to the struggling star all season. Reminders like, you’re too talented a ballplayer, and with more consistent at-bats, you will start producing. And just have fun and keep working hard. After the pep talk and a film session, Lewis looked like a rejuvenated competitor.

But it’s Not All Sunshine and Roses

But even with a refreshed Lewis, the Twins have several hurdles to climb to claw their way back into contention. They are five games out of a wild-card spot with virtually no chance at a division title due to the fabulous play of the 60-win Detroit Tigers. To get back into contention, they will need more consistent production from players like Carlos Correa, Ryan Jeffries, and Wallner. And a healthy and rested Pablo Lopez would do wonders for a recently struggling rotation.

And they are facing a Dodgers’ team that has lost 10 of 12 games, including getting swept by the red-hot Milwaukee Brewers over the weekend. The Dodgers are second to last in MLB runs scored (36) since July 4. And their club ERA since that date is a miserable 5.37, which ranks 25th in that period. But the Dodgers won’t make it easy for the Twins. Their starting pitchers for the series are Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Tyler Glasnow. Ugh!

Minnesota will also face one of the biggest Twins-killers in all of baseball, Mookie Betts. Against the team, Betts has 10 home runs, 12 doubles, two triples, and a slash line of .309/.383/.567 in 42 games. Double Ugh! And he may feast off of the Twins’ young starting trio of David Festa, Simeon Woods Richardson, and Chris Paddack, although Festa and Woods Richardson have pitched well as of late.

What Does it Mean for the Twins?

If they can sweep or at least take two from the Dodgers this week, their outlook will be substantially rosier. Drop the series or take only one of the games, and the vultures will be back to pick apart the Twins’ tradeable assets. It could go either way.